Low shoe



NOV- 2 3, 1943- G. K. GUlNzBuRG Low SHOE Filed Feb. 21, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l attorneg Nov. 23, 1943. G VK. GUlNzBURG Low SHOEy Filed Feb. 2l, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 811 l A h^ Gttorneg Patented Nov. 23, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOW SHOE Application February 21, 1941, Serial No. 380,057

7 Claims.

This invention relates to low shoes.

One object of the invention is to provide a shoe which is especially adapted to be worn on the beach or, more generally, as a sport or play shoe, the upper of the shoe being composed of fabric and being constructed in such manner as to hold the shoe on the wearers foot without fastening devices.

More particularly, in accordance with the present invention the shoe is provided with an upper formed of fabric and adapted to snugly and releasably t the wearers foot and thereby to provide a shoe which is comfortable and which can be put on and taken off without requiring the manipulation of fastening devices. The shoe is further characterized in that the upper is preferably unlined and is formed of fabric which, while strong and durable, is sufficiently porous to permit the passage of air therethrough.

A further object of the invention is generally to provide an improved shoe of the designated type.

The above and other objects of the invention will be fully understood from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a shoe embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the shoe shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan View of the outer side of part of the upper;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the inside of part of the upper;

Fig. 5 is a detail view further illustrative of the fabric construction;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the shoe on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. '7 is a transverse sectional view of the shoe on the line 1 1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a side View of a shoe made in accordance with another form of the invention;

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the shoe illustrated in Fig. 8.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the shoe IiJ illustrated in Fig. 1 comprises the fabric upper I2 and a resilient bottom comprising a rubber outsole I4, a middle cushion sole I6 preferably of sponge rubber, and a thin insole I8 formed of any suitable sheet material. As here shown the shoe is of the wedge heel type and is provided with a wedge heel 2t of light material such as light wood, cork, etc., said heel being disposed between the outsole I4 and a layer 22 of thin leather which extends for the full width and length at the bottom of the shoe. The middle sole I6 and the wedge heel 20 are covered at their edges With finished cloth or other suitable sheet material 24 extending completely around the shoe.

The upper I2 of the shoe is formed of fabric and comprises a vamp portion 26 and a rear portion including preferably in integral relation side portions 28 and 30 secured to the rear edge 3| of vamp portion 26 at the throat of the shoe and extending rearwardly therefrom to the back of the shoe. The fabric of the upper comprises an inner layer consisting of threads 32 and an outer layer consisting of threads 34. The threads 32 extend transversely of the fabric, i. e., in a di' rection between the top and bottom edges of the side portions 28 and 30 `of the upper, and are disposed in adjacent side by side relation. Said threads 32 are, as shown, parts of a continuous thread which is folded back and forth from one side edge of the fabric to the other. Threads 34 extend longitudinally of the fabric in zig-zag fashion, said threads being disposed in adjacent relation, and as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, each of said threads has longitudinally spaced loops 35 formed in the threads at both ends of transversely extending portions of said threads, respectively. In other words, threads 34 extend generally in the direction of the length of the fabric and also have short portions of equal length, as shown, extending transversely of the fabric. It will be noted, still referring to Figs. 3 and 5, that the adjacent transversely extending portions of each thread 34 are arranged in diverging relation from a loop 35, and that the spaced loops 35 of said threads are positioned between the adjacent loops of the respective threads which are in adjacent relation. Thus the fabric comprises two sets or layers of threads in superposed relation, one set or layer being constituted by threads 32 and the other set or layer being constituted by threads 34, the threads of each layer being arranged with respect to each other 'and with respect to the threads of the other layer as hereinbefore described. The

'" two sets of threads are secured in said relation by transversely spaced lines of stitching 36 `disposed throughout the fabric except at the upper marginal edge portion of parts 28 and 30 where said fabric is provided with transversely spaced lines of stitching 38 which are elastic. In other words, stitching 36 is preferably inelastic while stitching 33 is, as stated, elastic. Further in forming the lines of stitching 38 the elastic threads thereof are placed under tension so that the topmarginal edge of parts 28 and 30 of the 'worn by men and boys.

upper are contracted when the tension on said threads is released. Thus, the upper marginal edge portion of parts 28 and 30 are elastic and can be expanded to facilitate the insertion of the wearers foot in the foot opening of the shoe and to snugly embrace the wearers foot foi` holding the shoe thereon. It will be observed that each of the lines of stitching 36 and 38 engages the looped ends 35 of 'adjacent threads 34, thus securing said adjacent threads to each other as well las to the threads 32 of the inner layer of the fabric. It will be understood that the fabric is made by a machine which operates to arrange and stitch the threads in the fabric forming relation thereof, machines for accomplishing this being well known in the textile art. It will be noted that parts 28 and 39 are formed of fabric and have elastic and inelastic portions, and that said portions are integral with each other having the threads 32 and 34 in common. Preferably, the heel portion of the shoe is provided with a lining section 40 of any suitable sheet material.

The shoe described above with reference to Figs. l to 7 is intended primarily as a ladys or girls shoe but, of course, can be designed to be However, the shoe illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 is more particularly constructed for use by men and boys. Said last mentioned shoe has the bottom thereof constructed substantially in the same way as the bottom of the shoe shown in Fig. 1 except that the Wedge heel is omitted and a separate rubber heel 42 is attached to the bottom of outsole lli. The upper of this shoe instead of having 'a single vamp portion is provided at the forward part of the shoe with parts fit and 46 extending from one side of the shoe to the other in crossed relation without being attached directly to each other. Parts '44 and d are thus relatively movable in the shoe. Said parts 4 'and 156 are formed preferably of the same kind of fabric as the vamp portion 26 of the upper in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to '7. Parts 48 and Eil are stitched at their forward ends to the rear edges d of parts M and et, respectively, and are preferably in integral relation, said parts extending rearwardly from the throat of the shoe to thebacir'V thereof. Said parts 48 and 5S are formed of the fabric described above and like the parts 28 and 30 are provided with upper marginal edge portions which are elastic and can, therefore, contract and expand, being for this purpose provided with the elastic stitching 38, the stitching irl the remaining portion of said Darts being inelastic. Y

Thus, it is seen that the shoes made as described above are well adapted to accomplish the objects of the present invention. It will be understood, however, that while IV have shown 'and described the preferred embodiment of my invention including two forms thereof, said invention may be embodied otherwise than as here shown and that in the illustrated forms of the invention certain changes in the details of oonstruction and in the arrangement of parts may be made. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the invention as herein specifically shown or described except to the extent which may be required by the scope of the appended claims. t

I-Iaving thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a low shoe comprising a sole, a fabric upper secured to said sole and upstanding therefrom to the top edge of the foot opening, parts. of said fabric upper being disposed at opposite sides of the shoe and extending longitudinally thereof from the throat of the shoe toward the heel thereof and having integral top marginal edge portions which are elastic in the direction of the length of the shoe, said parts of the upper being formed of textile threads arranged in two adjacent layers and secured together in said layers by lines of stitching extending in laterally spaced relation longitudinally of the shoe in said top marginal edge portions and in the portions therebelow, the stitching in said top marginal edge portions being elastic.

2. In a low shoe comprising a sole, a fabric upper secured to said sole and opstanding therefrom to the top edge of the foot opening, parts of said fabric upper being disposed at opposite sides of the shoe and extending longitudinally thereof from the throat of the shoe toward the heel thereof and having integral top marginal edge portions which are elastic in the direction of the length of the shoe, said parts of the upper being formed of textile threads arranged in two adjacent layers and secured together in said layers by lines of stitching extending in laterally spaced relation longitudinally of the shoe in said top marginal edge portions and in the portions therebelow, the stitching in said top marginal edge portions being elastic and the stitching below said top marginal edge portions being inelastic and inextensible.

3. A low shoe comprising an upper having a vamp part extending across the shoe andhaving a rear edge which is located at and defines the front of the foot opening,7 and opposite side parts composed of fabric securedto the rear edge of said vamppart and extending rearwardly therefrom to the back of the shoe, said fabric side parts of the upper having integral elastic and inelastic portions, said elastic portions of said side parts of the upper extending longitudinally of the shoe and forming the longitudinally extending top marginal edge portions of the upper at the opposite sides of the Afoot openingsaid inelastic portions being of the samethicknessas the elastic portions and disposed below said ciastic portions in integral relation therewith.

4. A low shoe comprising an upper having a vamp part formed of two sections extending one over the other across the shoe, the rear edges of said sections being located at and defining in combination the throat of the shoe, and opposite side parts being composed of fabric secured to said rear edges, respectively of" said sections of the vamp and extending rearwardly therefrom tothe back of the shoe, said fabric side parts of the upper having integral elastic and inelastic portions, said elastic portions of said side parts of the upper extending longitudinally of the Vshoe and forming the longitudinally' exten-sling top marginal edge portions of the upper at, the opposite sides of the foot opening, said inelastic portions being of the same thickness as the elastic portions and disposed below said elastic por-tions in integral relation therewith.

5. In a low shoe comprising a sole, a fabric upper secured to said Vsoie and upstanding there'- from to the top edge of the foot opening, parts of said fabric upper being disposed at opposite sides of the shoe and extending longitudinally thereof, said parte having integral top marginai vedge portions which are elastic in the direction of the length of the shoe, said` fabric in saidVV sides of the shoe having an outer layer formed eil threads extendingY longitudinallyof the shoe and.

provided with transversely extending portions having looped ends, an inner layer adjacent said outer layer formed of threads extending transversely of said rst mentioned thread, and 1ongitudinally extending laterally spaced lines of stitching engaging said looped ends and securing the threads in one of said layers to the threads in the other of said layers, the lines of stitching at the top marginal edges of said fabric at the sides of the shoe being elastic, said transversely extending threads being relatively movable in the direction of the length of the shoe in said top marginal edge portions.

6. In a low shoe, an upper having opposite side parts composed of fabric, said fabric side parts of the upper having integral elastic and inelastic portions, said elastic portions of said side parts of the upper extending longitudinally of the shoe and forming the longitudinally extending top marginal edge portions of the upper at the opposite sides of the foot opening, said inelastic portions being disposed below said elastic portions, said fabric in said sides of the shoe having an outer layer formed of threads extending longitudinally of the shoe and provided with transversely extending portions having looped ends, an inner layer adjacent said outer layer formed of threads extending transversely of said first mentioned thread, and longitudinally extending laterally spaced lines of stitching engaging said looped ends and securing the threads in one of said layers to the threads in the other of said layers, the lines of stitching at the top marginal edges of said fabric at the sides of the shoe being elastic, and the lines of stitching below said top marginal edges being inelastic and said transversely extending threads being relatively movable in said top marginal edge portions in directions longitudinally `of the shoe and being held against such movement by said inelastic stitching in said inelastic portions of the upper.

'7. In a low shoe comprising a fabric upper, parts of said fabric upper being disposed at opposite sides of the shoe and extending longitudinally thereof and having integral top marginal edge portions which are elastic in the direction of the length of the shoe, said parts of the upper being formed of textile threads arranged in two adjacent layers and secured together in said layers by lines of stitching extending in laterally spaced relation longitudinally of the shoe in said top marginal edge portions and in the portions therebelow, the stitching in said top marginal edge portions being elastic.

GEORGE K. GUINZBURG. 

